Anterior Cingulate Cortex Reactivity to Social Stimuli Marks Individual Differences to Peer Victimization on...

Greater peer victimization predicts more internalizing symptoms, particularly among adolescent girls. However, not all adolescents are equally sensitive to peer interactions; rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) reactivity to social cues may mark these differences in sensitivity. rACC activation to social stimuli may mark individuals for whom peer victimization leads to internalizing symptoms; this effect may vary by sex and level of peer victimization. Understanding unique pathways to internalizing symptoms may provide increasing insight into the heterogeneity of emerging internalizing symptoms as well as precision targets for intervention.

Participants (n = 1,557; 11-12 years of age) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study℠ completed functional neuroimaging and questionnaires. Participants were divided into quartiles of rACC social activation (faces>places) during the Emotional N-back task.

Higher quartiles of left, but not right, rACC social activation were associated with higher levels of internalizing symptoms (b = 6.777e-02). In female participants, high rACC social activation related to decreased internalizing symptoms as victimization increased (b = -0.08) compared to female participants with average and low rACC social activation and all male participants.

Lateralized rACC social activation may mark sensitivity to internalizing symptoms and peer victimization. At normative-to-low levels of peer victimization, higher rACC social activation marked a particularly vulnerable group to peer victimization. However, in female participants, higher rACC social activation may be protective against high peer victimization, where it decreased the association between peer victimization and internalizing symptoms. The rACC may be a treatment target to reduce internalizing symptoms, but social context is an important factor contributing to heterogeneity.

One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper received support from a program designed to increase minority representation in science. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our reference list. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list. The author list of this paper includes contributors from the location and/or community where the research was conducted who participated in the data collection, design, analysis, and/or interpretation of the work.